France takes EU reins with push for more sovereignty

French President Emmanuel Macron waves as he greets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to two leading European figures as France formally took the reins of the 27-nation bloc for the next six months with big ambitions.

Mr Macron was accompanied by the head of the EU’s executive arm, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, at France’s famed Pantheon to honour the memories of Simone Veil and Jean Monnet.